Gallery: Thousands of runners help raise funds for Grove House Hospice in Herts 10K Challenge

PUBLISHED: 11:18 13 October 2009 | UPDATED: 14:33 06 May 2010

11.10.2009 The Herts 10k Challenge
The start of the race

THOUSANDS of runners helped raise much-needed funds for Grove House Hospice in the fourth Herts 10K Challenge. Sunday s cross-country event, which started off at Rothampsted Research in Harpenden, saw a record number of entrants with 2,256 runners taking

Sunday's cross-country event, which started off at Rothampsted Research in Harpenden, saw a record number of entrants with 2,256 runners taking part.

The race was officially started by ex-Saracens and England rugby World Cup winner Richard Hill, alongside Saracens coach Andy Farrell, following a warm-up by Nuffield Health St Albans.

First place in the men's race went to Christopher Dettmar, winning for the second year in a row with a time of 33 minutes, 29 seconds. He was followed by Andrew Cracknell and Rob Palmer.

Coming in first for the women was Hannah Walker winning for the third time in a row at 35 minutes, 41 seconds - a full two minutes quicker than her time last year.

In second and third places were Claire Miles and Marsaili Scott.

Community

Grove House fundraising director Paul Parrish said: "This year's Herts 10K Challenge was a proud moment for Grove House. To see so many local people turning out to support us shows the strength of feeling and belief that people have for their hospice.

"It was wonderful to see so many people wearing their Herts 10K T-shirts at the start line, all running together to create a fantastic community event. We are now waiting to see how much money will come in sponsorship to consolidate on this fantastic day."

Matthew Moffat, who took part in the race, described it as: "The best race in Hertfordshire without a doubt."

Fellow runner Amy Burgess said: "It's my first 10k so it will stick with me forever. Great organisation, great people, great time. Highly recommended for next year."

Recently we, as a family (minus two of the kids), visited The Lodge RSPB reserve in Sandy, Bedfordshire. I had never been before, which is perhaps amiss of me as a birdwatcher as it is the headquarters of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds or RSPB and only 45 minutes drive from home.